THE BALLAD OF READING GAOL

Seventh edition. Original ochre yellow cloth boards and white cloth spine, with titles in gilt to the spine. A very good copy, the binding square and firm with some bumping and minor fraying to the spine tips and corners. The white cloth is a little darkened and with a few finger marks. The contents with a small previous owner's name to the front endpaper and some toning to the prelims, are otherwise clean throughout.

The first edition of 830 copies was published under the pseudonym 'C.3.3' (the name taken from Wilde's cell number at Reading Gaol- the third cell on the third landing of Gallery C) on 13th February 1898, and sold out almost immediately. This seventh printing, issued in an edition of 2000 copies was the first to print Wilde's name on the title page, and the last authorised edition to be published by Leonard Smithers. (Mason 372).